Friday, September 26, 2014

The Polyphonic Mind

by Kathleen Pluth

In just a few minutes the second in a series of lectures on Philosophy and Music will begin at Catholic University in Washington, DC. The first was a fantastic discussion of Kierkegaard's writings on the figure of Don Juan/ Don Giovanni.

I've been attending the Philosophy School's fall lecture series for over a decade, whenever possible. One of the great things about it is the down-to- earth tone of the q and a discussion. These tremendously learned, extensively published professors put complex ideas into simple terms and everyday language.

Everyone who has worked in parish music knows how hard it is to speak about sacred music on everyday terms so that everyone concerned can understand. I feel that much of the miscommunication about sacred music derives from precisely this difficulty of verbally articulating about musical thoughts and feelings.

About the Chant Café

Catholic liturgical music is serious, solemn, transcendent, but Catholic musicians are never more fun and inspiring than when they are talking about what they love most. This is what happens at sacred music events around the world: the social and intellectual are critically important elements. The musicians (and music enthusiasts) at the Chant Café, a project of the Church Music Association of America, bring that sense of life and love to the digital world. As St. Augustine said, "Cantare amantis est."

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